In person, Kate Upton looks exactly like she does in the photos, but today something is off—or rather, on. Like her clothes. In the past year, the 19-year-old model has become a force of nature by revealing herself in Sports Illustrated cover, a GQfashion shoot, and as, uh, "Peter Cottontail." So, can a guy really be blamed for expecting that’s how she goes through the world? But other than the tight black jeans and ruffled blouse, the rest is intact: cocked eyebrow, beauty mark, Avatar proportions. We meet at NYC’s Gansevoort Hotel on Park Avenue, where she’s resting before competing at the A Combine House, an event promoting the brand’s latest product. We shake hands, and get right down to the important stuff: bathing, riding horses, and her thoughts on friends with benefits.

GQ: Since you’ve just partnered up with A, I was wondering—other than doing the dougie with an A bottle in hand—how you would convince a guy to use it.

Kate Upton: I really like A. I washed myself with A Sport Blast 2-in-1 this morning. I’m not joking, it smells really good. Tonight, we’re playing ping-pong and Pictionary and having a runway walk-off, getting all nice and sweaty... [laughs]

GQ: You’ll be competing with the Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul later on. Nothing against your ping-pong skills, but when is it okay to let a girl win?

Kate Upton: Never! Unless I’m, like, crying, then give me a point. But I don’t think you should let a girl win—they should earn it. And then if I lose, I’m going to go home, practice, and then come back and say, "Rematch."

GQ: To see what was on your mind before the competition, I checked out your Twitter, and saw that you Instragramed a photo of a horse. You also told us a couple months ago that your ideal date involved one. Serious talk, what is it about horses?

Kate Upton: I’m actually an equestrian, and I showed in the American Paint Horse Association and competed for top 20 in the nation. So, I have my own horse and two ponies. I grew up around horses, and that really is my passion. This last weekend was my first horse show in two years, so I was really excited and tweeting pictures. It was a lot of fun to go back and compete.

GQ: What are your horse-riding strategies?

Kate Upton: Well, it’s about having your horse trust you and trusting your horse. And then with that relationship, you guys can compete, and he’ll want to please you. Then you’ll win.

GQ: Moving away from horses, it’s a fact that you rank very high on the male species’s "Most Desirable" list. I was wondering what it’s like on the other side... What do you want, but can’t have?

Kate Upton: I want to be able to sing well, but I have the worst voice in the world. I really wanted to be a pop star like Britney Spears, but I can’t.

GQ: Got the same problem. Speaking of the male species, how have you learned to differentiate between guys that are interested in Kate Upton the model versus "Kate"?

Kate Upton: I feel like a have a very strong personality, and they either really like it or they can’t stand me. So I feel like they weed themselves out on their own, like, "She’s pretty...but she talks a lot." [laughs]

GQ: Didn’t think that would be an issue for most guys, but I’ll take your word for it. And yes, your personality definitely comes though in your photos. How do you want people to read you in them?

Kate Upton: When you see a girl in photos, you can tell in her eyes when she’s happy and having fun, that she enjoys her job and actually wants to be there. It’s the same in any job...your work isn’t going to be as good if you hate what you’re doing. Most of my photos are sexy and stuff, which of course isn’t my personality 24/7, but I like to have fun, and I think that comes across in my shoots.

GQ: What’s your go-to model pose?

Kate Upton: Definitely a hand on the hip or a hand up, and a pop of the eyebrow.

GQ: Got any names for that move?

Kate Upton: Um...Kate Upton’s Go-To Model Pose! [laughs]

GQ: Some more guy questions for you. What’s the worst pick-up line you’ve ever gotten?

Kate Upton: I just think that pick-up lines in general are horrible. None of them work. I just want to say, "Ah, that was really cheesy," and walk away.

GQ: That’s cold!

Kate Upton: Being yourself: That’s what’s going to make me laugh. Not because you repeated something you read on the Internet.

GQ: Although, I’ve heard one that was pretty clever, "If you were a pirate, would you want a parrot on this shoulder...or this shoulder?"

Kate Upton:[Laughs] I would’ve been like, "Oh my gosh, don’t touch me!" But then there’s a balance. Like this one guy was trying to be funny—he was very direct—and said, "Listen, let’s be friends with benefits." And I was like, "Nope, I’m more of a girlfriend type." Maybe I’m waiting for someone to pull out the right line. I’ll let you know when that happens.

GQ: What’s the one thing a guy should never wear on a date with you?

Kate Upton: I guess it just depends on the occasion. For me, it’s more about the guy than what they are wearing. If they’re confident in what they are wearing, then go for it. I’m not going to give you my opinion on your outfit, and you don’t get an opinion on my outfit. [laughs]

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